Recent waves of fighting between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban in the surrounding areas of Lashkargah city, the center of the southern province of Helmand, have displaced as many as 1,000 families.
TOLOnews’ reporter Abdullah Hamim reports from the frontline that many of these families are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
“Women and children are in a miserable condition, the Taliban were deployed inside homes, they are still there, we only managed to take one bag and we left behind our other belongings,” said Sediqullah, a displaced person in Helmand.
“What should I bring? The war started in the early morning, the Taliban made their way through the forest, we headed out toward the city, we gathered our children in a vacant shop,” said Gul Agha, a resident of Lashkargah.
Some people who fled their homes are unaware of the status of their loved ones in the Lashkargah area.
“I brought my two children with me, half of our family fled to a Taliban-controlled area, my husband has remained at home, I don’t know whether he is alive or not,” said Zarmina, a resident of Lashkargah.
“Over 1,000 families have been displaced in Helmand due to the fighting, we had discussions with the NGOs, aid will be distributed to these families soon,” said Sayed Mohammad Ramin, the head of Helmand’s Migration Department.
The Helmand provincial council has said that despite the decreased fighting in the surrounding areas of the city, the displaced families are in great need of humanitarian assistance.
“The government needs to pay more attention to Helmand, and reorganize its forces. Emergency aid should be provided to the displaced families,” said Attaullah Afghan, the head of the Helmand provincial council.
Eight months ago fighting occurred around Lashkargah, and families were also displaced then.
This latest fighting broke out in Helmand as American forces are currently withdrawing from Afghanistan.
